Device for closing openings in tire-casings.



I No. 719,147; v PATENTED JAN. 27, 1903;

0. T. SBMLER.-

DEVICE FOR CLOSING OPENINGS IN TIRE CASINGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1902.

110 MODEL.

Fly. 3.

ilrrnn rates ATET Fries.

OTIS T. SEMLER, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GERTRUDE WVISE, OF AKRON, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR CLOSING OPENINGS IN TIRE-CASINGS.

:33?EGIFICACI'IDJSI forming part of Letters Patent No.

719,147, dated January 27, 1903.

Application filed July 10, 1902. Serial No. 114,997. (1% model.)

To all whom, it incl/y concern.-

Be it known that I, OTIS T. SEMLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Closing Openings in Tire-Casings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has a general relation to improvements in pneumatic tires of various kinds which embody an inner inflatable airtube and an outer envelop to protect the in ner tube and form a tread-surface for the tire, and it has especial relation for closing the slit or opening in the outer envelop through which the inner tube is inserted.

The object of my invention is to provide a neat and secure means of closing this slit that may be easily and quickly operated.

To the attainment of this object my invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and then specifically claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different figures, Figure l is a section of a tire at the line X of Fig. 2 embodying my invention; Fig. 2, aportion of a tire with a portion broken away to better illustrate its construction, and Fig. 3 a view of the lock ing-rod.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the inflatable inner air-tubc, provided with the inflating-valve 2, and 3 is the outer envelop with the usual thickened tread portion 4. In this envelop 3 is the usual slit or opening 5 through which the inner tube is inserted. Embedded and vulcanized in the opposite edges of the slit 5 are a series of metallic plates 6, which for the purpose of this specification will be termed leaves, somewhat resembling the leaves of ahinge, constructed of thin sheet meta1,with their outer ends that rest in the rubber wider than their inner ends, making them substantiallyT -"shaped, and

with their inner ends that project into the slit bent or turned into tubular loops that lie lengthwise of the slit and centrally therein. These leaves are arranged alternately on the opposite sides of the slit 5, with their tubular ends in juxtaposition and alinement when the slit is closed. Through these tubular ends isinserted a locking-rod 7,tapered or pointed at one end and turned into a ring at the other,adapted to receive and fit the inflating-valve tube 2. The leaves 6 are not necessarily of the exact shape shown, as any form that will serve to anchor them firmly in the envelop may be used; but the shape shown will be found preferable as afiording a more secure hold in the envelop.

In use, the inner tube having been inserted, the edges of the slit 5 are brought together, the rod 7 inserted from the end near the inflating-valve tube 2 through the tubular ends of the plates 6, and its ring end passed over and around the tube 2, thus retaining it against accidental dislodgment, and the slit 5 is unlocked by reversing the operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved device for closing the outer casing for pneumatic tires which consists in slitting said outer casin g longitudinally from the point of opening for the air-tube, embedding in the body of the outer envelop on either side of the slit alternate plates whose outer ends are turned into tubular loops so placed that the tubular loops are in alinement with each other, in combination with arod adapted to pass through said tubular loops and provided with a head having a loop to embrace the air-tube to retain said rod in place, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTIS T. SEMLER.

In presence of-- C. P. I-IUMPHREY, C. E. I-IUMPHREY. 

